Has anyone with gallstones used weight loss injections without problems?

[Downtherabbithole34]

I'm thinking of getting mounjaro. I saw my gp this week for another issue and while I was there she weighed me. Long and short. My BMI is 52. Im upto 133kg. I was 108 kg when I was weighed at the go two years ago. I just seem to be getting fatter. She did say she will refer me to tier 3 weight management but that she would also enquire whether I can get the injections in the NHS, she said they do make special exceptions even if you don't meet all the criteria.

I have confirmed gallstones, I've had them for 4 years. I've had some horrific attacks into he last but not for around a year now. And I eat whatever I want. (Maybe why I'm so fat)

Go said be wise I am so obese that the benefits of the jab outweighs the risk of taking it with known gallstones.

Had anyone already had gallstones and then gone on to get the injections and been absolutely fine?

Sympathies, Op, a gallstone attack is one of the worst pains imaginable. I have had my gallbladder removed and am on WLI so can't give you my own experience. What I would advise is give it a go if you can get the prescription. I thought that a lot of prescribers would refuse patients with gallstones, but my only experience has been with private providers.

Hi! Slightly different. I started wli in October and then had my 1st gallstone attack in March. I was devastated at stopping and regaining weight. The advice I got was that the WLI hadn't caused the stones but rather I wasn't eating regularly enough on them. I stopped for a bit as the pain really scared me and then finished the pens I had on a much lower dose. Ive only lost 1.5 stone since March but haven't gained! Ive had 2 more attacks and again nobody was worried about me continuing taking the WLI. One nurse told me some surgeons recommend to carry on as the risk of an anaesthetic when you're obese is greater than the gallstones. The main trouble is finding a pharmacy that will prescribe them. I was lucky and had just ordered a new pen a dose up and as I went back to the lowest dose it lasted ages! A friend also had a spare I bought off her! I never thought I'd be doing things not recommended but it has changed my life! I rang the GP after being diagnosed as was so worried about my health if I put the weight on and they told me to eat less and move more! That upset me almost as much as the gallstones! Good luck with whatever you choose!

I had gallstones. I got an encyclopedia of food ... avoided a typing with fat in until I could have gallbladder removed (I paid i was so desperate).

Can I be honest? I wouldn’t. I’m not ok the anti weight loss injection bandwagon. But this is the one time I wouldn’t use it. Losing weight made gallstones a massive problem for me: many people end up with gallstones when losing weight.

as always: speak to the medical professionals

I have gallstones, used to get flare ups regularly, once a week or more, but since starting mounjaro over a year ago I have had one flare and that was after eating some really heavy rich food.

Hi
Yes I was taking Gp1 last year, I had one flare which was horrendous. Then I was ok for a while but was really careful with my food. Ate very clean. But then had another one and ended up in A&E.
I had stones for over 8 years no issues. I came off the Gp1 and had the stones removed 3 months later. The surgeon said they had seen an increase in patients taking these injections and gallstones although not fully proven.
I waited 6 months and now back on GP1 and no issues, doing ok very slow weight loss but I’m ok with that.

Yes. Me. I’ve had gall stones for at least 10 years. I’ve found since I’ve lost 20lbs I don’t get the pains I was getting. I only ever took 2.5 or 5.0 and I’ve not had a jab for a couple of months now.

This is helpful. Thank you. The worry isn't them flaring up, the worry is getting pancreatitis or something that could be really nasty/deadly. It's catch 22 I need to lose the weight to get the surgery but I can't lose it by myself. I've tried every diet going and I'm the biggest I've ever been. I'm balooning.

This is helpful, thank you. I get really bad pains very few and far between. My concern is that I will get pancreatitis something similar, or they will get worse due to rapid weight loss.

Have gallstones. Had horrific attacks on occasion previously. Have lost nearly 6 stone on MJ over two years and not had one attack since starting them. I was really conscious to stay on a low dose and go for small losses. It's worked for me.

It made mine worse (well the weight loss did), I had two sporadic attacks in 2021 and then nothing till late 2024 about five months after starting MJ. I ended up with my gallbladder removed. That said, I wouldn’t have swapped at any point or wished I hadn’t done MJ. Personally I think once you have gallstones it’s just a matter of time anyway, I went more than six months without an attack, ate whatever I liked, and then randomly was hospitalised with an attack that not even morphine could control. It’s a bit of a ticking time bomb, especially if you plan to lose weight in any way.